FX Films - Wedding Cinematographyhttp://www.fxfilms.co.uk
Wedding Video Training UK, Wedding CinematographyWed, 25 Feb 2015 14:23:00 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Please continue to FX Mediahttp://www.fxfilms.co.uk/please-continue-to-fx-media.htm
http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/please-continue-to-fx-media.htm#commentsThu, 02 Jan 2014 15:38:08 +0000http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/?p=1769I realise that people still come to this website to watch wedding clips and read about training…but if it’s up-to-date clips, news and general updates you’re seeking, please head on over to FX Media. There’s also the FX Media fanpage over on Facebook too!
Thanks, and see you there

Richard

]]>http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/please-continue-to-fx-media.htm/feed0The Surprise Wedding Proposalhttp://www.fxfilms.co.uk/the-surprise-wedding-proposal.htm
http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/the-surprise-wedding-proposal.htm#commentsTue, 31 Dec 2013 11:28:44 +0000http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/?p=1753(Scroll down past all the pics/text if you can’t wait to see the film!)

INITIAL CONTACT:
I remember the moment when a guy called Zee phoned me while I was at the office. Even before he could finish his explanation about the possibility of a proposal film (a spoof music film of Coldplay’s Paradise), I told him I wanted to be on board no matter what. I had filmed another surprise wedding proposal before, many years ago, and there was nothing more touching and memorable than that magic moment when she said ‘yes’ (under all her tears!).

Zee had a rough storyboard idea involving himself wearing a HUGE rabbit costume, walking around various locations that meant something to both him and his currently-unsuspecting girlfriend, Laura. (e.g. family houses, uni grounds, first place they kissed etc)

I met with Zee to refine the storyboard and come up with a plan of action…at…wait for it…my old student house! Talk about small world!!

THE FILMING:
We spent 2 whole days driving from Warwick to Bath to Oxford to London. In each location, I literally filmed as quickly as I could; time really was that tight! And yes, we got stared at, hooted at by car horns, and cheered by everyone wherever we went!

THE PROPOSAL NIGHT:
Zee and I had to get this exactly right. Talk about pressure. Zee took Laura out for drinks in Oxford, on a Saturday night. Meanwhile, I setup my Blu-Ray film with the help of the projectionist at the Phoenix Picture House, and friends and family of the couple arrived and hid in the bar upstairs. Zee surprised Laura with last-minute cinema tickets to see a ‘friend’s directed movie’. LUCKILY she went along. When they arrived, they sat down and I quickly mic’d Zee up with a hidden microphone when he ‘popped to the toilets’. The film played as I hid behind the cinema screen curtains, secretly filming her reaction….

PICS BELOW:
In almost every scene of the film, is a place or person that means something to Zee or Laura. Below are Laura’s parents and relatives (and their suspicious-of-a-giant-rabbit dog!) who were absolutely amazing in their cameo roles.

PICS BELOW:
(top-left) Zee having a cheeky puff of Laura’s brother’s cigarette – this went down a storm when we played it to friends and family at the cinema, as Zee doesn’t actually smoke!
(top-right) A SPECIAL MENTION to Wahaca Restaurant in London Waterloo, who after hearing what we were filming, treated us to a 2 course meal and wine, on the house – THANK YOU!!
(bottom-row) Zee, myself, and Zee’s friend who joined us for the day, quickly preparing the ‘MARRY’ sign whilst we ate at Wahaca.

PICS BELOW:
(right) I made the most of a random film crew at Trafalgar Square.

PICS BELOW:
In and around Oxford. FACT: the basketball shot you see in the film was Zee’s first attempt. Needless to say, the basketball team were pretty shocked!
(bottom-right) Zee insisted he’d able to learn how to uni-cycle in a week of practice. In those rabbit feet? No chance! In the film, he spots the uni-cycle propped up against the wall where in real-life he and Laura first kissed. Aww

PICS BELOW:
(top-row) Strange coincidence number 2: The second I went to film Zee walk towards the cinema in Oxford, I suddenly saw him leap towards a random woman and hug her. It was his Mum…who happened to walk near us at that exact second of that exact day (and she doesn’t even live in Oxford!!!). Imagine her fright when a huge rabbit hugged her saying ‘MUM?!?!’
(bottom-row) Laura’s reactions were absolutely priceless as she spotted friends and family pop up throughout the film.

PICS BELOW:
(left) To film Laura in secret, I made out I was cinema-staff fixing some lights by the screen. I then pointed a light towards them (remember it’s pitch-black in a cinema), and hid behind the cinema projector screen with my camera. My heart was racing; I really didn’t want her to spot me!
(middle) Laura and Zee’s friends and family secretly hiding in the cinema bar, waiting for the verdict!
(right) The newlyweds. Congrats guys, you make such a lovely couple!

So here it is, the spoof music film, the proposal, and the reaction. Please do feel free to share this blog entry around, and leave comments! It’ll be nice for Zee and Laura to look back on!!

]]>http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/the-surprise-wedding-proposal.htm/feed2Merry Xmas 2013, from FX Filmshttp://www.fxfilms.co.uk/merry-xmas-2013-from-fx-films.htm
http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/merry-xmas-2013-from-fx-films.htm#commentsSun, 22 Dec 2013 11:45:44 +0000http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/?p=1763Merry Xmas to you all – I simply had to make a cringey xmas-jumper photo with my family…sorry

But nothing has ever tested me so much as this – a film of my beautiful baby girl, Chloe.

My wife and I have been taking rough footage here and there over the last 12 months, using just a standard ‘home-movie’ camcorder and our iPhones (so nothing cinematic this time I’m afraid!). But wading through hours and hours of priceless moments, just to make a short-and-sweet ‘growing up’ clip of her 1st year…well nothing prepared me for the struggle!

I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am to have finally finished this – the best memento of all – some of her ‘first’ moments, her funniest moments, her loveliest moments. We’re the proudest parents ever. This one’s for you Chloe x

And here are some select pics:

]]>http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/baby-girl-chloe-0-1-year.htm/feed0Promo Film for Jon Harper Photographyhttp://www.fxfilms.co.uk/promo-film-for-jon-harper-photography.htm
http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/promo-film-for-jon-harper-photography.htm#commentsWed, 16 Oct 2013 09:44:26 +0000http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/?p=1742Jon Harper and his wife Sandra have only been in the wedding industry for a relatively short while, but are already creating superb work. To be more precise, they produce a ‘fusion’ between photography and cinematography. Obviously it may have been a tad difficult to film themselves, so they brought in FX Media to create an unbiased promo.

Well what a fun couple…and I really do mean FUN! We all had such a laugh shooting this, and didn’t want the day to end!

]]>http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/promo-film-for-jon-harper-photography.htm/feed0Teaser Trailer for Kirsty Mitchell’s Wonderlandhttp://www.fxfilms.co.uk/teaser-trailer-for-kirsty-mitchells-wonderland.htm
http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/teaser-trailer-for-kirsty-mitchells-wonderland.htm#commentsWed, 16 Oct 2013 09:43:11 +0000http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/?p=1739Many are aware by now that I’ve been filming a rather special set of behind-the-scenes films for world-famous Kirsty Mitchell Photography. The last few months have been so memorable, and I can’t wait for both the films and images to be shown.

This teaser trailer gives an exclusive glimpse into what we’ve been up to, with tiny hints at the upcoming final photo scenes from Kirsty.

What I love most about working with Kirsty is her passion for film and music…and that is why I’ve worked on a rather dramatic yet super-slow-mo edit to showcase our footage.

Big shout outs to the make-up artist Elbie Van Eeden, the models, and to Diego Buongiorno (who exclusively edited one of his rather powerful music tracks for this clip)

]]>http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/teaser-trailer-for-kirsty-mitchells-wonderland.htm/feed0A 50s Style Cinematic Photoshoothttp://www.fxfilms.co.uk/a-50s-style-cinematic-photoshoot.htm
http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/a-50s-style-cinematic-photoshoot.htm#commentsMon, 30 Sep 2013 10:32:55 +0000http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/?p=1723Something I’ve always wanted to do is try out a semi-styled/posed photoshoot … so out I went and bought some extra lights and talked friends Nikki and Chris into posing for me one afternoon. (You may recognise <a title=”Nikki Loy Music” href=”http://www.nikkiloy.com/Nikki_Loy_Music/HOME.html” target=”_blank”>Nikki Loy</a>, a fantastic singer and songwriter who starred in her very own FX Media <a title=”Nikki Loy Can I Keep You Music Video” href=”http://www.fxmedia.co.uk/nikki-loy-can-i-keep-you-the-music-video.htm” target=”_blank”>music film</a>!)

What we produced is something quite special – from a cold and windy day, a few photography tricks, and 2 brave models, we managed to end up with some warming retro images loosely based on the 50’s.

Here are the final images, in no particular order (with a few behind-the-scenes and location shots at the end too!)

And here are some location shots as well as a couple of behind-the-scenes photos:

So if you’d like some professional photos, do get in touch by hitting the ‘contact’ button at the top of this page.

]]>http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/a-50s-style-cinematic-photoshoot.htm/feed0FX Media now on Facebookhttp://www.fxfilms.co.uk/fx-media-now-on-facebook.htm
http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/fx-media-now-on-facebook.htm#commentsWed, 24 Jul 2013 13:55:44 +0000http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/?p=1719Our sister site FX Media now has a new Facebook page, where you can gain access to the most up-to-date behind-the-scenes photos from shoots, as well as other news. Just press that ‘LIKE’ button to be a part of it all!

FX Media is the place to go for viewing and booking corporate films, music videos, behind-the-scenes, short films, model shoots, showreels, promos.

It’s probably about the right time to update blog-readers on what I’ve been up to lately…

– First up is all the training I’ve been delivering – it’s pretty much a full-time job now! I’ve been travelling the country to train people at their own homes, but in most cases people continue to travel to my office in Oxford (recently from as far as the Netherlands, Madrid, Ireland, Scotland). Whilst the majority of people have been photographers wanting to learn filming for the wedding and corporate sectors, the rest have been amateur-to-established filmmakers…and some have even required very bespoke training in specialist areas (property, underwater, film trailers and more). If you’d like 1:1 training, don’t hesitate to get in touch, so I can add you to the diary/tour!

– Still on the subject of training, I also have upcoming group workshops each specialising in different full-day topics: 1) Premiere Pro (CS6 and CC) 2) After Effects (CS6 and CC) 3) DSLR Cinematography. These workshops are happening in Oxford, soon expanding to Surrey and beyond.

– A big highlight for me recently has been to film Kirsty Mitchell, an outstanding fine-art photographer … more to come on that soon!

– Traffic Experiment hosted a memorable screening night of the film I made for them, at a cinema in Windsor. And as a nice surprise, my short film ‘Dreamscape‘ was also shown on the big screen!

– 3D animations and logo design have been flying off the shelves, and I hope to be able to include snippets of these in my upcoming updated showreel.

– It’s been a pleasure to help out The Trained Eye once more … they required new shots to be added to their main promo (first shot and edited 2 years ago), as well as a ‘Night-Out‘ clip when a group of tutors and students hit the town!

– Other film jobs I’ve been involved with have included top secret jobs and 2nd-assistant jobs (inc. special effects, training sites, promos, logo animations) … I only wish I could say more!

– Here’s just a few of the clips I’ve made recently, for some super clients:

Superhero Boudoir

Concrete Rose

Sam Strange Promo

Stay tuned for a revised showreel, and information on upcoming training days and workshops.

Our 2nd ever workshop for filmmakers and cinematographers was another triumph! (Click here if you missed the blog entry, with spoof videos!) Once again we met such a wonderful crowd of enthusiastic people, who travelled from as far as Yorkshire and Denmark to be with us!

This time around we included some simply amazing guest talkers – Martin Hill (photographer), Kode Media (digital media agency) and Little Voice Media (audio specialist). Their added input far exceeded our expectations, and we all came away buzzing with new ideas and techniques!

Thanks also goes to Elbie Van Eeden (make-up artist), and Philippa and Damien (our bride and groom model couple). You all did a splendid job!

Below are just a select few photos I sneakily took throughout the day, which should give you a small insight into our workshops: